Adventure, February 1917 — page 176: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

174 “Well, if you know three of the four you are the man to send up. Get ready to take charge of the posse.” “Let your posse go in charge of Ben Thomas’ I go alone.” “What the— alone? Against four train robbers? And in the hills, too? You’re crazy, man. ‘They’ll pot you as sure as Christmas.” “T’ve handled that gang before and I go alone.” The man in brown went over to a closet and took out a rifle, a dull-finished gun of the automatic type. Hunting around among the stuff in the closet he picked up a full box of cartridges and put them in his pocket. “So long, Dick. See you later.” He was gone before any of the men had ‘time to say another word to him and the door swung behind him without a sound. “Don’t he beat anything on two legs for saying a lot? Awfuletalkative chap, that Bill Logan. I guess that is the second time he has said anything more than passing the time of day in four months.” The speaker strode over to the window and looked down into the street. ‘He gets out so still, and when he is on* the street he fades out of sight like a fog’ wreath. Can’t see him anywhere now. “T wonder why he wants to go alone now. He never wanted to do that before that I know of. Say, Dick, who are you going to send?” “You and Bert and the four from Lan- caster, maybe pick up an extra or two. The officers of the road will be there with about a dozen men and the Acton officers have been notified. I am going to get word to every peace officer within fifty miles of Sau- gus to look out for the gang.’ “All right. Come on, Bert. How do we go, Dick? Auto?” “Sure! There ain’t a train for two hours and an auto will get there a long way ahead of that train. Get out and tell Pete to take the Locomobile. It’s in best trim for that trip.” The men started out and down the steps to the street with 4 pair of rifles in their hands. They caught a car and went off to the county garage to get the auto that: was detailed for their trip. At the garage they asked if Logan had been after a/car and were told that he had not. They fussed around and looked the car Adventure over for some time, and it was over an hour after the lean man, Logan, had left the office hefore the two deputies finally left the city. They made fairly good time, but it was no racing gait that the official chauffeur took to Saugus that day. ‘am WHEN Logan had left the sheriff’s 527 TI office he had gone to another office where he could ‘use a phone with- out being overheard and called a number. When a man answered he mentioned the name of a celebrated road-racer who had driven in the Phoenix race three times, and the other man told him to wait a moment. Another voice called to him a little later and he told who he was. “Oh, hello, Logan, old man. What can I do for you?” “T don’t like to ask favors, but you told me once that you would do anything T asked of you.” ey meant it thea and I mean it now, Lo- gan. Go ahead with your order and [’ll be there with bells.” “T want to get to Saugus 1 in the shortest possible time.” “Where are you now?” “Temple and Broadway.” “Come to First and Broadway and vil pick you up in two minutes after you get there.”” >: The phone hung up with a click and<Lo- gan walked out of the office and headed for First Street at a rapid gait. He carried his gun under his coat so that it would not ex- cite.comment and he walked close to the buildings as he went the short distance. . At the corner he stood leaning against the Times Building with his eyes scanning — every person who passed. He had only a - few minutes to wait before a low racing-car, painted a dull gray, had swung to the curb and Logan stepped swiftly across the walk “and slipped into the seat beside the driver. Up First Street past the police station and off to the south on Hill Street they. sped, then through the Third Street tunnel and off to Hollywood they went. The car passed three officers who held up their hands in frantic signal to halt, but the lean man in each case held up his left — hand with the county shield in its palm and they were waved on their journey. Out through Caheunga Pass and across the San Fernando Valley they made speed that was like the passing of a meteor, the car rocking (EO LPMIE LOOKS (c (E@